Motorists who cross the Thames using the Dartford Tunnel or Queen Elizabeth II Bridge need to pay the Dartford Crossing Charge. To speed up traffic and reduce congestion, ticket booths were removed from the Dartford Crossing in 2014 and the remote ‘Dart Charge’ payment method was introduced. The system uses Automatic Numberplate Recognition (ANPR) cameras to identify who needs to pay and payment is required for each trip both northbound and southbound. With the exception of motorcyclists, the owner of any vehicle using the Dartford toll crossing needs to pay.
30th June 2023
Changes to Dartford Crossing
National Highways has announced that a new service provider Conduent will become responsible for vehicle identification, payment system and account management for journeys across the Dartford Crossing. Emovis will continue to issue and manage enquiries related to Penalty Charge Notices (PCNs).
These changes mean that account holders, including the pay-as-you-go customers, need to re-validate their payment cards from 28th July to avoid a PCN. If customers take no action, crossings will not be automatically paid because of invalid payment details.
The Dart Charge applies between 6am and 10pm, every day – including weekends and bank holidays.
- Motorcycles, mopeds and quad bikes – £0
- Cars (including trailers), motorhomes and any minibuses that have 9 or less seats (including the driver’s seat) – £2.50 (one-off payment); £2 (if you have an account)
- Vehicles with 2 axles – £3 (one-off payment); £2.63 (if you have an account)
- Vehicles with more than 2 axles – £6 (one-off payment); £5.19 (if you have an account)
You must pay the Dartford Crossing charge by midnight the day after you cross.
To find out more information about payment options or to pay, click here.
If you forget to pay the Dart Charge on time, you’ll get a £70 fine, which reduces to £35 if paid within a fortnight – although if you fail to pay within 28 days, it goes up to £105.
This fine applies to each individual crossing, so if you make a return trip and forget to pay for both journeys, you could be liable for a total fine of £210.
If you think a penalty charge notice (PCN) is wrong, you can challenge it by making a representation.